Bubba Watson of the United States reacts on the eighth green during the final round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)(Photo: Andrew Redington, Getty Images)

Bubba Watson needed a fast start Sunday at the Masters for any chance of contention.

His putting never got hot enough, early enough, to make that happen.

After misfortune of putting into a bunker on the second hole, Watson surged forward on a back nine highlighted with an eagle to finish with a 3-under 69, tied for fifth, and with his best performance in a major championship since winning the Masters for a second time in 2014.

Watson finished at 9-under for the tournament, six shots behind winner Patrick Reed. In a classy move, Watson waited by the 18th green with his son, Caleb, and the two were among the first to congratulate Reed.

Reed held off charges from Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth to win his first Masters title.

In the past three years of major championships, Watson's previous best was a tie for 21st in the 2015 PGA Championship. Watson, 39, a Milton High graduate and Pensacola resident, missed cuts in three of the four majors last year, including the Masters.

Webb Simpson reacts after holing his shot from the fairway for an eagle on the seventh hole during the final round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8. He also made eagle on the eighth. Andrew Redington, Getty Images

Workers put up the score of Tiger Woods along the 2nd green during the third round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Tiger Woods reacts after putting on the 7th green during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6. He made a great putt for par. Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Marc Leishman walks to the 18th green during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. He's 7-under after two rounds and in second place. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Reed of the United States plays his shot from the ninth tee during the second round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6. He was the leader through 36 holes. Patrick Smith, Getty Images

Gary Player greets Jack Nicklaus after hitting their ceremonial tee shots on the 1st hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the second green as a gallery of patrons look on during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5. Andrew Redington, Getty Images

Jason Day of Australia talks with a patron after his shot landed in the patron's beverage during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5. Patrick Smith, Getty Images

Vijay Singh reacts after his tee shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. He was on the leaderboard early after he made three birdies in the first four holes. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Sergio Garcia hits the ball into the water on the 15th hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. He needed 13 strokes on the par-5 hole. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Sergio Garcia is greeted by his wife Angela Akins Garcia while walking to the 18th tee during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National. Michael Madrid, Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday's finish at famed Augusta National Golf Club put another exclamation on his sterling start, which includes two PGA Tour wins, so far season.

It also became Watson's fifth top-five finish in a major championship with the two Masters wins, a runner-up finish in the 2010 PGA Championship and a tie for fifth in the 2007 U.S. Open.

Playing behind the constant roars and amazing charge of Jordan Spieth, who was playing in the group ahead, Watson created a few of his own crown roars with strong play on the back nine.

Watson, who is a co-owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, started the front nine with three pars and a bogey on the first four holes, removing any chance of catching a leaderboard that was moving forward with the players ahead of him.

One of those pars became a social media and Internet buzz when his eagle putt on the par-5, No. 2 hole fell off the edge of green and into a sand trap on the right side.

Watson had blasted a drive 334 on that hole, then his approach hit the green, but stopped in a place where the bunker jutted into the line toward the hole.

As he tried a putt to hug the edge, the ball slipped down into the trap. He blasted out and saved par on the hole.

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 07: Bubba Watson of the United States looks on from the eighth green during the third round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 7, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775099139 ORIG FILE ID: 943141414(Photo: Getty Images)

He followed with two birdies on the front nine, including a beautiful shot in the uphill, par-4 ninth hole where he sank a six footer.

But any hopes of climbing higher were dampened when his tee shot on No. 10 went into the trees. It resulted in a bogey. He then had two birdie putts slide past the cup on No. 11 and the par-3 12th.

It dropped him out of the top 10, down to a tie for 11th, at that point.

He put a charge into his day on the par-5 13th, after a booming drive and terrific approach put him about 12 feet from the cup. He sank the putt for eagle to get to eagle and climb to a tie for sixth.

It was his fourth career eagle on No. 13 at the Masters.

Watson missed a chance for birdie on the par-5 15th, after his approach landed in a sand bunker and left him a difficult stance to get the shot close enough for birdie. But his par on the hole was followed by a great shot on the par-3 16th, leading into a birdie.

Watson is expected to take the next two weeks off, then play in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on April 26-29.